Signaling system.



G. E. BEACH.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 23, 1914.

1,120,995. Patented Dec. 15,1914.

WITNESSES: S lNVENTOR qayww THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHO"WASHINGTON D, C

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFlCE.

CLARENCE E. BEACH, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE 0. KNAPP,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 23, 1914. Serial No. 813,892.

cation.

My invention relates to series circuit alarm systems, in which there area plurality of signal transmitting stations and a plurality of signalreceiving stations on the same circuit. In a system of this kind it isoften desirable to secure selective response of the various receivingdevices depending 1 upon the wish of the person in charge at thetransmitting station.

An object of my invention is to provide in a series circuit switchingmechanism associated with certain receiving and transmitting stationswhereby said circuit may be adjusted, so that upon the operation of oneof such transmitting stations all of the receiving devices in suchcircuit will not be responsive to such operation, but the associatedreceiving devices (as for example, those on the same floor or in thesame building) and certain otherreceiving devices (as for example, thoseprovided for the local fire department) will be responsive thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in a series circuit,switching mechanism associated with certain receiving and transmittingstations whereby said circuit may be adjusted, so that upon theoperation of one of such transmitting stations the associated receivingdevices (as for example, those on the same floor or in the samebuilding) will be the only receiving devices responsive thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in a series circuit,switching mechanism consisting of a single switch associated withcertain receiving and transmitting stations whereby said circuit may notonly be adjusted by means of said switch, so that upon the operation ofone of such transmitting stations the associated receiving devices (asfor example, those on the same floor or in the same building) andcertain other receiving devices (as for example, those provided for thelocal fire department) will be the only receiving devices responsivethereto, but whereby said circuit may also be adj usted, by means ofsaid switch, so that upon the operation of one of such transmittingstations, the associated receiving devices (as for example, thoseon thesame floor or in the same building) will be the only receiving devicesresponsive thereto, and whereby said circuit may also be adjusted, bymeans of said switch, so that upon the operation of one of suchtransmitting stations all receiving devices in the entire system will beresponsive thereto, including those provided for a city fire departmentand those on other floors or in other buildings.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a series circuitapparatus in conneo.

tion with certain receiving devices whereby the response of saidreceiving devices may be selectively cotrolled from transmittingstations located at a distance therefrom without running any extra wiresbetween said receiving devices and said transmitting stations which maybe a long distance apart,

Another objectof my invention is to utilize 'means provided for thepurpose of receiving certain signals for indicating a decrease in thestrength of the source of current supply to a point inconsistent withthe best operation of the system, without interfering with the use ofsuch means for indicating the signals for which it is intended, bycausing a single stroke bell to sound a multiplicity of strokes insteadof only the usual single impulse, which might easily be missed.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide non-interference mechanismat the various stations, so adjusted that a fire signal has the right ofway over a floor or drill signal and will not be interrupted thereby,

'but on the other hand, the floor or drill signal will be interruptedand the fire signal transmitted to the fire departments withoutinterference.

Another object of my invention is to provide nonsinterference mechanismwhich may be adjusted as between fire signals afii'ecting only the flooror building and the local fire department and fire signals afiecting theentire system including the city fire department so as to enable theexercise of choice between possible interference at the local firedepartment station and a correct signal on the affected floor or acorrect signal at the local fire department station and possibleinterference on the affected floor, giving the right of way to thesignals considered to be of most importance in any particular location.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in theaccompanying drawing a circuit supplied with energy by Each controllingstation is provided with switch mechanism which includes the switch arm2 and the contacts 3, and 5 with any one of which said arm is adapted toen gage. At controlling station J the pivot of arm 2 is connected to themain circuit at junction 6. One terminal of the resistance 7 isconnected to contact 3 and one terminal of the resistance 8 is connectedto contact 5. The other terminals of resistances 7 and 8 areconnectedtogether and then to the main circuit at junction 9. Atcontrolling station li the pivot of arm 2 is connected to the maincircuit at junction 11. 'One terminalof the resistance 8 is connected tocontact 5' and the other terminal of said re sistance is connected tothe main circuit at junction 10. Contact 3 is connected to anintermediate point on resistance 8. At both stations contact a is blank.At controlling station J the switch arm 2 is shownrin engagement withcontact 4, this being the positionin which all receiving devices will beoperated by a transmitting station associated with this controllingstation, while at controllingstation K the switch arm 2 is shown inengagement with contact 3, this being the position in which only theassociated receiving devices will be operated by a transmitting stationassociated with this controlling station. At station J the value ofresistance 8 is such that when the shunt circuit through it is closed,the current in the rest of the system will be decreased to such anextent by the opening of the shunted contact springs that magnet'13 willrelease its armature to open the circuit of the gong 12 associatedtherewith at station C while the current is not decreased to an extentsuiiicient to permit the retraction of the armatures of the gongs atstations F, G and H. Resistance 8 at station K is of similar value. Thevalue of resistance 7 at station J and of the right hand portion ofresistance 8 at station K, is so low that when the shunt circuitsincluding them are closed, the current in the rest of the system will beso little decreased by the opening of the shunted contact springs thatthe gongs in the rest of the system will not respond. The value of theseresistances must be high enough so that the portion of the total currentflow which passes through the path shunted by these resistances will besuflicient to cause operation of the devices therein.

The receiving stations C, D, E, F, G and ment' including the magnet 13and the switch 1 l which is connected in the circuit of gong 12 at thatstation and is controlled by said magnet.

Magnet 13 is so adjusted that it will allow its armature to be retractedto open the circuit or its associated gong 12 whenever the current isdecreased by a break in the circuit in parallel with either resistance8. The relative resistances of the magnet 13 and the magnet of the gong12 associated therewith should preferably'be such that when thesemagnets are in parallel and the current flow in the circuit is decreasedto a predetermined value such as might jeopardize the ellicientoperation of my system but not as greatly reduced as would be the caseif the entire line current was forced to pass through one of theresistances 8 through'the separation of its associated contact springs17 and 18, said magnet 13 will permit its armature to retractsufiiciently to break the circuit through gong 12 associated therewithand thereby permit said gong to sound, but in view of the increasedcurrent strength through magnet 18, said magnet would upon the breakingof the shunt through I.

gong 12, be suliiciently energized to again attract 1ts armature andthus close the shunt through said gong and thus'vibrate'said armature solong as such current decrease continues.

At the transmitting stations A and B typical transmitting mechanism isshown,

including the signal wheel 15, the signaling lever 16, the contactsprings 17 and 18, to-

gether with the non-interference magnet 19,

and the armature structure 20 controlled thereby said armature structureacting to When the switches are in the position shown in the drawing,the circuit is as follows: from source 1 to station C, passing throughthis station by two paths, the first path comprising magnet 13,energizing this magnet and causing it to attract its armature to closeswitch 14: completing the second path through switch 1 1 and gong 1.2,energizing the magnet of the gong; thence to junction 6, through gong 12at station D, through contact springs 17 and 18 and magnet 19 at stationA, through gong 12 at station E, to junction 9, to junction where thecircuit divides into two paths, first through sections F, B and G tojunction 11 and second, from junction 10 to controlling station K,through right hand portion of resistance 8, to'contact 3, to switch arm2, to junction 11; here the two paths join and the circuit passesthrough station H and back to source 1. The current normally flowingover this'circuit energizes the magnets of all the gongs 12. It now thesignal wheel at station A is rotated the action of contact springs 17and 18 thereat will be to open and close the circuit above traced andall the gongs in the entire system will respond.

When the switch arm 2 at station J is placed on contact 3, the stationsD, A and E are shunted by resistance 7 and the rotation of the signalwheel 15 at station A will cause the response of only the gongs atstations D and E associated therewith, the value of resistance 7 being,as already explained, such that while this shunt is closed theseparating of the springs 17 and 18 will not cause the other gongs tosound.

VJhen the switch arm 2 at station J is placed on contact 5, the stationsD, A and E are shunted by resistance 8 and the rotation of the signalwheel 15 at station A will cause the response or the gongs atstations 1) and E associated therewith and also of the gong 12associated with magnet 13 at station 0, the value of resistance 8 being,as already explained, such that while this shunt is closed, magnet 13will release its armature to open the circuit of the gong 12 associatedtherewith at station C whenever the springs 17 and 18 are open, whilethe current is not then decreased to an extent suliicient to permit theretraction of the armatures of the other gongs.

The operation of the switch mechanism at controlling station K issimilar to that of station J, the value of that portion of resistance 8connected between contact 3 and junction 10 being approximately equal tothat of resistance 7 similarly connected between contact 3 of station Jand junction 9. Either method may be used, the distinction beingimmaterial to the operation of my invention.

The operation of the mechanism at station C is as follows: When thearmature of magnet 13 is retracted, all of the current in to attractedposition, magnet 13 is'shunted by the magnet of the associated gong 12and therefore receives only a portion of the total current. Hence itfollows that while magnet 13'may be strongly energized while attractingits armature, when the shunt circuit is closed at contact 14, theenergization of magnet 13 is decreased and said magnet is thereafter incondition to release its armature upon a very slight diminution of thecurrent. The operation of the mechanism at station C will make known agradualdeterioration of the battery by the continuedretraction andattraction of the armature of magnetj13 and the'consequent continuousringing of the gong 12 associated therewith. If a trans mitting stationshould be operated even under this condition, the alarm would still besatisfactorily received.

The operation of the non-interference mechanism under the condition ofmore than one box being pulled at or about the same time will now bedescribed. When two controlling stations have their switch arms 2 oncontact 3 at each station, a transmitting station associated with onecontrolling station may be operated to transmit its alarm to thereceiving stations associated therewith, and at the same time atransmitting station associated with the second controlling station maybe operated to transmit its alarm to the receiving stations associatedwith said second station, without either intertering with the other. Ifthe controlling stations have their switch arms 2 on their respectivecontacts 4, thus forming the usual series circuit, the non-interferencemagnets operate, in the manner well known in the art, to give thecontrol of the circuit to the transmitting station which first has theline open while another has it closed. 11 one controlling station hasits switch arm 2 on contact 3, as for a floor drill signal, and anothercontrolling station has its switch arm 2 on contact a, as for a generalfire signal, the fire signal has the right of way and will hold back thefloor signal if the floor signal is operated while the tire signal isbeing transmitted, while ifthe fire signal is operated while the floorsignal is being transmitted, the floor signal will be interrupted andthe gongs formerly responding thereto will thereafter respond to thefire signal. If one controlling station has its switch arm 2 on contactat and another controlling station has its switch arm 2 on contact 5,the result obtained when two boxes are operated at the same time willdepend upon the adjustment of the non-interference armature and eitherof two effects may be obtained, as follows: If the non-interferencearmature is adjusted so as to be retracted at a comparatively high valueof the current passing through its magnet and two stations are operatedunder these conditions, the station first having its contacts open whileanother has its contacts closed will obtain control of the line. Viththe same adjustment of the armatures, and two controlling stations eachhaving their switch arms 2 on their respective contacts 5, the resultwill be the same, one station taking and holding control of the circuit.

In either of the above cases, it transmitting station whose associatedcontrolling station has its arm 2 on its contact'5 was the one' whichlost control of the circuit, there might be one or two blows upon thegongs associated with that controlling station and the rest of thesignal from that station would be lost, while the local fire station Cwould receive a correct signal from the station which prevailed. If, onthe other hand, it is deemed that the importance, under thesecircumstances, of assuring the im mediate transmission oi the signals,from both such stations to their respective groups of gongs outweighsthe importance of assuring the receipt of the distinctive signal of oneof such stations at station C, the noninterference armatures should beadjusted so that they will be retracted only at a con paratively low'alue oi the current passing through their magnets, then it thetransmitting stations of two controlling stations each having theirswitch arms 2- on their respective contacts 5 were pulled, both stationswould operate station C. With this adj ustment, the operation of atransmitting station whose associated controlling station had its arm 2on its contact would stop a transmitting station whose associatedcontrolling station had its arm 2 in its contact 5 and t'ansmit its ownsignal, thus at station C and the stations associated with the secondcontrolling station, a partly transmitted signal might be interrupted togive the more important fire signal right. of way.

In the use of non-successive transmitting devices with my invention,preference may thus be exercised through the adjustment of thenon-interference magnets either to insure the transmission of a completefire signal to the receiving devices provided for the local firedepartment or to the receiving devices on the affected floor. 7

If so-called succession transmitting devices are employed, thenon-interference armatures should be adjusted so as 'to be retracted ata comparatively high current value and in this event, while the moreimportant signal would always be given right of way and a less importantsignal of one of two equally important simultaneously started signalswould be delayed, no signals would be lost.

It is obvious that in utilizing my inven' tion other stations similar toany of those I have described may be located at any desired point in thecircuit.

What I claim is:

1. In an electrical signaling system, a receiving de ice H responsiveonly to relatively large current changes, a receiving device Cresponsive to relatively small current changes, a transmitting device,one or more other receiving devices, two resistances, and means forconnecting either resistance in shunt to said transmitting device andsaid other receiving devices, so con structed and arranged that when oneresistance is so connected said transmitting device may cause saidrelatively small current change and when the other resistance is soconnected said transmitting device may cause a current change less thansaid relatively small change.

2. In an electrical signaling system, a receiving device H responsiveonly to relatively large current chan es, a receiving device Cresponsive to relatively small current changes, a transmitting device,one or more other receiving devices, two resistances, and means forconnecting either resistance in shunt to said transmitting device andsaid other receiving devices.

3. In an electrical signaling system, a receiving device responsive onlyto relatively large current changes, an electro-inagnet, a shunt to saidelectro-magnet, a receiving device in said shunt, a switch in said shuntcontrolled by said electro-magnet whereby said receiving device isrendered responsive to relatively small current changes, a transmittingdevice, one or more other recei ng de *ices, resistance, and means forconnecting said resistance in shunt to said transmitting device and saidother receiving devices, so constructed and arranged that when saidresistance is so connected said transmitting device may cause saidrelatively small current change,

A series circuit including a current source, a transmitting device soconnected in said circuit as to be adapted to formulate a distinctivesignal consisting of a series of relatively small current changes in thecurrent flow through saic, circuit, and an electrc-magnet, a shuntaround that portion of the series circuit including only said magnet, areceiving device in said shunt responsive only to comparatively largecurrent changes, and a switch in said shunt adapted to be so controlledby said electro-magnet as to render said receiving device responsive tosignals so formulated by said transmitting device, said current sourceand said shunt being connected through said series circuit only.

In an electrical signaling system, an electromagnet, a shunt to saidelectromagnet, a receiving device in said shunt, a

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switch in said shunt controlled by said electromagnet, a transmittingdevice, other re ceiving mechanism, a resistance, and means forconnecting said resistance in shunt to said transmitting device and saidother receiving mechanism. v

G. In an electrical signaling system, an electromagnet, a shunt to saidelectromagnet, a receiving device in said shunt, a switch in said shuntcontrolled by said electromagnet, such construction and arrangement thatsaid receiving device will be responsive to relatively small currentchanges, a receiving device responsive only to relatively large currentchanges, a transmitting device, other receiving devices, a resistance,and means for connecting said resistance in shunt to said transmittingdevice and said other receiving devices.

7. In an electrical signaling system, an electromagnet, a shunt to saidelectromagnet, a receiving device in said shunt, a switch in said shuntcontrolled by said electroniagnet, such construction and arrangementthat said receiving device will be responsive to relatively smallcurrent changes, a receiving device responsive only to relatively largecurrent changes, a transmitting device, other receiving devices, tworesistances, and means for connecting either resistance in shunt to saidtransmitting device and said other receiving devices.

8. In an electrical signaling system, an electromagnet, a shunt to saidelectromagnet, a receiving device in said shunt, a switch in said shuntcontrolled by said electramagnet, such construction and arrangement thatsaid receiving device will be responsive to relatively small currentchanges, a receiving device responsive only to relatively large currentchanges, a transmitting device, other receiving devices, a resistance,

and means for connecting said resistance in shunt to said transmittingdevice and sald other receiving devices, so constructed and arrangedthat when said resistance is so connected said transmitting device maycause said relatively small current change.

9. In an electrical signaling system, an electromagnet, a shunt to saidelectromagnet, a receiving device in said shunt, a switch in said shuntcontrolled by said electromagnet, such construction and arrangement thatsaid receiving device will be responsive to relatively small currentchanges, a receiving device responsive only to relatively large currentchanges, a transmitting device, other receiving devices, tworesistances, and means for connecting either resistance in shunt to saidtransmitting device and said other receiving devices, so constructed andarranged that when one resistance is so connected said transmittingdevice may cause said relatively small current change and when the otherresistance is so connected said transmitting device may cause a currentchange less than said relatively small change.

10. In an electrical signaling system, a receiving device responsiveonly to relatively large current changes, an electro magnet, a shunt tosaid electro-magnet, a

receiving device in said shunt, a switch in 1 said shunt controlled bysaid electro-magnet whereby said receiving-device is rendered responsiveto relatively small current changes, a plurality of transmittingdevices, one or more receiving devices associated with each transmittingdevice, and means whereby each transmitting device may be operatedeither to cause response of all the receiving devices or only of itsassociated receiving devices and said receiving device responsive torelatively small current changes.

11. In an electrical signaling system, a receiving device responsiveonly to relatively large current changes, an electro-magnet, a shunt tosaid electro-magnet, a receiving device in said shunt, a switch in saidshunt controlled by said electro-magnet whereby said receiving device isrendered responsive to relatively small current changes, a plurality oftransmitting devices, a resistance and one or more receiving devicesassociated with each transmitting device, and means whereby eachtransmitting device and its associated receiving devices may be shuntedby the associated resistance, so constructed and arranged that when saidresistance is so connected said transmitting device may cause responseof its associated receiving de vices and said receiving deviceresponsive to relatively small current changes.

12. In an electrical signaling system, a receiving device responsiveonly to relatively large current changes, an electromagnet, a shunt tosaid electro-magnet, a receiving device in said shunt, a switch in saidshunt controlled by said electro-magnet whereby said receiving device isrendered responsive to relatively small current changes, a plurality oftransmitting devices, a resistance and one or more receiving devicesassociated with each transmitting device, and means whereby eachtransmitting device and its associated receiving devices Y may beshunted by the associated resistance.

said movable member to connect arelatively high resistance from said oneside to the other side of said transmitting device and said associatedreceiving devices, and a second contact cooperating with said movablemember to connect arelatively low resistance between said sides, saidmovable member being arranged to open its circuit When disengaged fromboth of said contacts.

14:. In a signaling system having a normally closed series circuitincluding an electro'magnet, signal transmitting devices and suchcircuit connections that said transmitting devices may be partiallyshunted out Without shunting said .electro-magnet, a shimt'around thatportion of said series circuit including only said magnet, a receivingdevice in said shunt, and a switch in said shuntcon'trolled by saidelectro magnet.

15. In a signaling system .having a normally closed series circuitincluding an elec- .tro-magnet, signal transmitting devices and suchcircuit connections that said transmitting devices may be partiallyshunted out Without shunting said electro-magnet; a shunt around thatportion of said series circuit including onlysaid magnet, a receivingdevice in said shunt, and a switch in said shunt controlled by saidelectro-magnet, all so proportioned and adjusted that said receivingdevice is rendered responsive to the current changes incident to theoperation of Copies of this patent may be obtained 10: five cents each,by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 11.0.

